Preseason Game 3: Dallas Mavericks (0-2) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (2-1)

[SleepingHero]

It really looks like Gortman is one of the 10 best Mavs and Dinwidde is not. This is the third game out of three that’s looked that way to me. Am I wrong?

Yeah I've been tempering my expectations a lot but Gortman has now had his 3rd solid game so far.

[Mavs2021]

Mavs don´t look so hot defensively all pre-season. We miss DJJ on defense.

Washington looks great, so did Hardy and Grimes. 

Too early to worry about Klay, but Mavs better hope this is old man-training camp, no Luka, new team syndrome. His shots are short, he can´t create separation and his inside game reminds me of Robin Hood. Gortman also looks better than Dinwiddie, and we all be happy when Luka´s usage is back to take the ball out of Naji´s hands.

[SleepingHero]

Mavs don´t look so hot defensively all pre-season. We miss DJJ on defense.

Washington looks great, so did Hardy and Grimes. 

Too early to worry about Klay, but Mavs better hope this is old man-training camp, no Luka, new team syndrome. His shots are short, he can´t create separation and his inside game reminds me of Robin Hood. Gortman also looks better than Dinwiddie, and we all be happy when Luka´s usage is back to take the ball out of Naji´s hands.

Hardy on the other hand has looked awful defensively.

[Mavs2021]

Time to bring in JJB to mentor a midget. We finally found a worthy one.

[SleepingHero]

Gortman is on FIRE

[Mavs2021]

PJ looks awesome. He probably benefits the most from having a training camp with the team to develop plays for him.

[SleepingHero]

And on cue he forces Harden into an airball. Gortman on fire.

[SleepingHero]

I think thats Hardy's 4th turnover just because he lost the handle.

[SleepingHero]

https://x.com/TheMavsBlog/status/1846026108489060659

PJ COAST TO COAST

[Mavs2021]

And on cue he forces Harden into an airball. Gortman on fire.

He´s a baller. Looking into his past stats he was not a good shooter. On the Mavs he´s 16/30 from deep during SL/Pre-season. Hot streak or genuine improvement?

[Mavs2021]

I think thats Hardy's 4th turnover just because he lost the handle.

Seems you really onto him. It was his 3rd according to the boxscore. Thompson has three, Gortman has two, Lively two. At least he´s not 0-7 from the field.

[SleepingHero]

He´s a baller. Looking into his past stats he was not a good shooter. On the Mavs he´s 16/30 from deep during SL/Pre-season. Hot streak or genuine improvement?

Most likely a hot streak coupled with it being preseason so no team has tape on him (AND aren't trying that hard).

[The Jom]

He´s a baller. Looking into his past stats he was not a good shooter. On the Mavs he´s 16/30 from deep during SL/Pre-season. Hot streak or genuine improvement?

At that age, I’d be suspicious it just took him a couple years to adjust to the deeper 3-point line, like it does for lots of guys. Possible it’s all just a hot streak. But sure looks a lot like he’s taken a leap instead. He’s the right age to take a leap. 

If you want to tap the breaks on something, check out his assists. He’s not generating shot for teammates currently. But he seems to be doing everything else well, on both ends.

[SleepingHero]

Hardy late with the pass to Marshall for the last shot.

I might seem like I'm being too hard but it's these small mistakes that are stopping him from being a rotation player.

[Mavs2021]

Hardy late with the pass to Marshall for the last shot.

I might seem like I'm being too hard but it's these small mistakes that are stopping him from being a rotation player.

I´m confused. What was Hardy´s mistake? That Marshall didn´t make the shot.

He got the ball with six seconds left and created an open three for Marshall with two seconds on the clock.

[Chicagojk]

Interesting Gortman got the start tonight. Kidd does things with no rhyme or reason in preseason, but I think this means something. At the least he is in a battles for a two way. At his age, he may have the edge on Williams.

I thought PJ looked great, not so much with klay.

Mavs still look like they are still working in being connected on d. Normal with new guys. Hasn’t looked pretty though.

Din doesnt pass the eye test for me. He is a veteran and will get the minutes early, but he needs to earn them to keep them. Marshall has some good moments but also some cringe moments. I think that is just his game. Need to find away to keep the best and limit the worst. Feels like a player who may try to do too much at times.

[The Jom]

Harden and Klay combined 1/9 from deep. Everybody else 12/24.

[Mavs2021]

Mavs still look like they are still working in being connected on d.  Normal with new guys.  Hasn’t looked pretty though.

I´m worried they lost the athletic connector with DJJ. Marshall, Grimes and Klay might be smart defenders, but none seem to stand out athletically.

[SleepingHero]

I´m confused. What was Hardy´s mistake? That Marshall didn´t make the shot.

There is tempo and rhythm to the game. Rewind if you can:

At 4.4 seconds you can see Marshall already set and squared, calling for the ball. DJJ isn't close to Marshall. 

At the same time, Hardy has already missed his chance to score. He's underneath the basket, doubled teamed, and nearly falling over. He is staring right at Marshall. A quick shovel pass now gives Marshall a wide open look.

Hardy for some inexplicable reason takes 2 more dribbles around the hoop toward Marshall. 

Only at 3 seconds left does Hardy make the pass, but when he does so he's now drawn TWO defenders toward Marshall. Marshall now catches the ball with just 2.8 seconds left on the clock with 2 guys closing in on him.

In fact, Mann, the dude guarding Hardy was the one who contested Marshall and contested him well. 


That 1.3 second difference, was the entire difference between Marshall getting a clean look with no contest, vs. a contested look with a dwindling shotclock. Add in the inane choice to bring 2 defenders toward Marshall and over dribbling the ball.

Might seem small but the difference is massive.

[Mavs2021]

There is tempo and rhythm to the game. Rewind if you can:

At 4.4 seconds you can see Marshall already set and squared, calling for the ball. DJJ isn't close to Marshall. 

At the same time, Hardy has already missed his chance to score. He's underneath the basket, doubled teamed, and nearly falling over. He is staring right at Marshall. A quick shovel pass now gives Marshall a wide open look.

Hardy for some inexplicable reason takes 2 more dribbles around the hoop toward Marshall. 

Only at 3 seconds left does Hardy make the pass, but when he does so he's now drawn TWO defenders toward Marshall. Marshall now catches the ball with just 2.8 seconds left on the clock with 2 guys closing in on him.

In fact, Mann, the dude guarding Hardy was the one who contested Marshall and contested him well. 


That 1.3 second difference, was the entire difference between Marshall getting a clean look with no contest, vs. a contested look with a dwindling shotclock. Add in the inane choice to bring 2 defenders toward Marshall and over dribbling the ball.

Might seem small but the difference is massive.

Yeah it´s also a massive difference to gather himself while dribbling around two guys while flirting with the baseline and then delivering a one-handed pass. If he had thrown it off balance and missed Marshall you would have complained, too. There was a single late semi-contest on Marshall´s shot. That was a very makeable shot. This is ridiculous.